Toy Story 3 – Where are the Toys off to, Now?

Now this is what you call a sequel.

There’s no kidding that the Toy Story franchise has finally come to an end, but for many who have been touched by this fun yet heartwarming animated film, it’s a pleasant farewell and a no-miss opportunity to reacquaint with Andy’s toys for a final, memorable 109 minutes.

It all started in 1995. We met Andy and his toys, and witnessed the rivalry between Woody (an old-fashioned pull-string cowboy toy) and Buzz Lightyear (a new space ranger action figure). Woody was overcome with misery that he isn’t Andy’s favorite toy now, but Buzz the space action figure is. The animated film did not end that way, though. Audiences of all ages got a dose ofthisvalues-oriented treat for the whole family.Then four years later, in 1999, came another installment to this CGI film. Toy Story 2 continued to attract the general audience, this time with Woody’s near-fate to be sent off to a museum in Japan. Buzz Lightyear took on the lead to rescue his friend who had been toy-napped. Along with the other toys, Buzz went by all means to retrieve Woody from the hands of the conceited Al McWhiggen before Andy gets back from Cowboy Camp.

Three generations of Toy Story films, each one with a lesson to share, has been greatly approved of and enjoyed by young children, and the younger at heart. Eleven years after Toy Story 2, we are continually impressed and entertained by a Disney-Pixar creation. Pixar took advantage of digitally updating Toy Story 3 in its visuals and animation, in which we now see how the animated industry has developed over the course of years.

To watch Toy Story 3 needs not a look back to its first two predecessors, but for those who have ample knowledge about it (pretty much a whopping percentage of moviegoers around the globe) – they will find that the final Toy Story is an absolute retraction to the first movie. While the original Toy Story film is about becoming attached to one’s toys, teaching children that toys have feelings, too and therefore need proper care and attention – Toy Story 3 is, on the contrary, about detaching one’s self from his toys, in an unstoppable period called growing up.

In the movie, Andy is 17 years old and is going off to college so his toys are on the brink of uncertainty as to what fate they are likely to confront. We see the very familiar of Andy’s toys (Some of which were not on the movie anymore, as in the story they were already sold on yard sales or given out as donations.), and we see a cloud hanging low on their heads upon thought that their owner wouldn’t need them anymore.

However, one must not assume that the movie is all about letting go, just a sequel to mark the end of the Toy Story franchise, because it is absolutely not so. The movie did not lose its humor and entertainment quality, and we are still taken with awe into the world of moving, talking toys. The voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen re-enlivened the characters of Woody and Buzz, so are the rest of the dubbing cast.

So the toys are sent off to a daycare center. It was at first an appealingly exciting and new experience for Andy’s toys, and they got to meet a whole new bunch of toys at Sunnyside Daycare including a huge, pink fluffy bear named Lotso Lovin’ Bear. Meanwhile, Ken is smitten by Barbie’s striking beauty. One minute it was a haven for them, especially since they can see that this place was better that being thrown into trash. But the next instant, it was a nightmare – or should I say, daymare – when the kids started playing roughly with the toys. Andy’s toys tumble into a fit of emotions, which drives the viewer into an overall experience of heart-pinching yet uplifting and visually amazing, not to mention enjoyable viewing that certainly makes a good end to what has become part of our real-life story.

It’s a worthy sequel. Like a child who is gracefully compelled to detach from his toys, Disney-Pixar allows us to bid a pleasant goodbye. Yet, in the depths of our hearts it makes us want to yearn for another Toy Story. Hmm, let’s say… Andy’s kid’s toys’ story?